Happy Hour Roundup

By Jonathan BernsteinBy Jonathan BernsteinAugust 14, 2012

Happy birthday, Social Security! The program was signed into law 77 years ago. Hey, all of you in your 20s and 30s who think you’ll never see a penny of benefits — that’s a myth! The bad news is that Social Security does have a long-term funding problem. The good news is that it’s not all that big of a problem, could be easily fixed with small adjustments, doesn’t balloon into something difficult to fix at any point in the foreseeable future. Even if it’s not fixed and future congresses don’t raid the rest of the budget for money, you would still get a bit more than 75 percent of what you’re scheduled to get. The health-care programs are having real trouble; Social Security is basically in great shape.

So, on to the good stuff:

1. “The ridiculous attack ad not only treats seniors like idiots, it also keeps the Medicare issue right where Democrats want it: up front and center.” Steve Benen on the new Mitt Romney ad attacking President Obama for the Medicare cuts that congressional Republicans almost all supported — a good example of lazy mendacity.